초록 ▼

A portage system for supporting light watercraft such as a canoe or kayak includes a frame having opposed first and second upright arms, a plurality of cross-struts interconnecting the arms, a pair of shoulder straps secured to a cross strut and a hip belt secured adjacent bottom ends of the upright

A portage system for supporting light watercraft such as a canoe or kayak includes a frame having opposed first and second upright arms, a plurality of cross-struts interconnecting the arms, a pair of shoulder straps secured to a cross strut and a hip belt secured adjacent bottom ends of the upright members to removably secure the frame to a user. First and second thwart cradles are adjustably secured to top ends of the first and second upright arms so that a center thwart of the watercraft may engage the first and second thwart cradles to support the watercraft at varying heights above the user. A balance strap is adjustably secured between a bottom end of an upright arm and a forward attachment point on the watercraft and tightened at a selected length by a slide buckle to prevent a rear end of the watercraft from descending below a selected height above a surface of the terrain the user is to portage in order to prevent the watercraft from banging into the obstructions on the surface and interrupting balance of the user, while enhancing forward visibility of the user. The thwart cradles can be adjusted to position the watercraft at one of a variety of heights above the user, the height being selected depending on the depth of the center thwart in the watercraft, and/or the length of the craft.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portage system for supporting light watercraft, comprising:a. a frame having opposed first and second upright arms interconnected by a plurality of cross struts, a pair of shoulder straps secured to a cross strut and a hip belt secured to bottom portions of the arms to

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A portage system for supporting light watercraft, comprising:a. a frame having opposed first and second upright arms interconnected by a plurality of cross struts, a pair of shoulder straps secured to a cross strut and a hip belt secured to bottom portions of the arms to removably secure the frame to a user;b. a first thwart cradle adjustably secured to a top end of the first upright arm, and a second thwart cradle adjustably secured to a top end of the second upright arm so that a central strut of a watercraft may engage first and second cradle slots of the first and second thwart cradles to be adjustably supported at varying heights above the user, the first and second thwart cradles including adjustment means for positioning the first and second cradle slots at varying heights above the first and second upright arms; and,c. a portable kayak center thwart securable to a kayak including a bar dimensioned to engage the first and second thwart slots, wherein the portable kayak center thwart is an adjustable kayak center thwart including a first clamp end defining a clamp notch and a second clamp end defining a second clamp notch, the clamp ends interconnected by a support bar including a bar length adjustment means for adjusting a length of the bar, so that the kayak center thwart may be shortened to fit into a cockpit of a kayak and lengthened to position the first and second clamp notches to engage a cockpit gunwale perpendicular to a keel of the kayak.